Chrissey’s Writing Tips #3

Every writer wants people to read their story. My next few articles deal with the how to engage readers and keep them reading. This month I’m starting at the beginning.

GOING FISHING – hooking readers with the opening of your story

If you want to keep the pages turning then the first thing you need to do is make sure the reader turns the first page. My personal rule when looking at the opening of a story is this:

STARTING A STORY

So what makes a good opening?

Avoid thinking you need to sum up the story so far to bring people up to speed before you start telling the story you want to tell. In other words, think long and hard about where your story actually starts and start from there.

Going back to Writing Tips #2 about showing and telling, I personally feel that you must open with a scene. You have a whole story in which to incorporate the back story and character history; your reader does not need to know all of it up front.

Now a scene doesn’t have to mean dialogue or action but a line of either of these is often a good way to open, especially for people starting out in writing. Another option is description. A characterful piece of narrative summary can work in the hands of someone experienced.

You are not committed to keeping the first thing you put down on paper. Try a few different things out. People take time to warm up when they start writing, so the first thing you write is very rarely the best thing.

OPTIONS FOR OPENING LINES

Action

Action creates motion and direction of some kind which in turn creates anticipation. Whether it’s running (to where, why?) or sitting (for how long, are they waiting for something?), the very act of performing an action creates curiosity in the reader.

Jean Auel Clan of the Cave Bear

This line sets the scene and introduces the character in one, very efficient sentence. Not only can you picture her, immediately as a reader you want to know why she is naked, is she in danger, why is she running?

Dialogue

It’s very hard to get an opening line wrong when you start with dialogue; although it may not be the strongest or most original way to open, it is always at least moderately effective. All dialogue anticipates a response and the reader will want to know what the response is.

Enid Blyton Five on a Treasure Island

Description

You can also start with description, by setting the scene, but make sure what you’re describing is interesting. Usually it’s best to avoid the weather. Weather is everywhere; show us something we can’t get by looking out the window.

Maria V Snyder Poison Study

Statements and questions

If you’re not going to use action, dialogue or description to open your story make sure you make it characterful. Make a statement out of the blue or ask a question. Say something outlandish or outrageous.

Rachel Caine Glass Houses

Breaking the rules

No one ever said you can’t break the rules. Anything goes so long as you remember always your aim: make the reader curious. So you can start with telling us about the weather:

Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman Good Omens

But be aware, if you do this the reason people will read on is that they assume you are making some kind of joke or at least a point. In the case of Pratchett and Gaiman the first paragraph continues:

All of the examples in today’s post were taken from books on my bookshelf. Do you have some good examples of opening lines to share? What’s your approach to starting a story?

Tagged as: advice, beginning, opening, opening hook, starting, writing, writing advice, writing tips